Search - Thrones :: Day Late Dollar Short

Transistor Transducer

Hand of Doom | The Wonderful World of Colonized Minds | 06/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The indie metal label, Southern Lord Records, can always be counted on to deliver the rarest of heavy goodies. Be it newer bands like SUNN O))) and Goatsnake, or remastering old behemoth stoner records of legendary doomsters, Saint Vitus, and The Obsessed, you can always count on something extraordinary, and usually offered in limited pressings of colored vinyl. The double clear vinyl version of The Hidden Hand's "Mother, Teacher, Destroyer" they released is above and beyond. I've gotten quite a bit of S.L. stuff over the years and have never once felt like I came up short.



S.L. has recently made me particularly happy with two such remasterings. One, a double vinyl offering of Dylan Carlson's earlier Earth recordings, "Legacy of Dissolution," pressed in green swirly wax, liner notes, and one of the sweetest gatefold covers I've ever seen, which I end up staring into...usually around midnight when this gets played:) Yes, it is just that good.



The other is this odds n' ends cd collection of hard to find/previously unreleased Thrones material, sardonically titled, "Day Late, Dollar Short." Note the cover photo, and Preston's recurring theme of white bunnies(as with the two original ep vinyl covers of what later merged as the "Sperm Whale" disc).



Thrones is a one man band, Joe Preston(recently w/High on Fire) who got his start with the seminal, ambient/drone band, Earth, on their "Extra Capsular Extraction" ep in the early 90s. Joe went on to play bass for the even more prominent and influential Melvins(when I first met him)and later, ventured off into solo land.



This disc has nineteen rarities, some I remember from the times I've seen Thrones live, a few from Thrones 45s that I heard over the years, dubbed tape recordings, etc, so it's good to hear quality recordings of The Suckling, Senex, Valley of the Thrones, The Walk, Piano Handjob, and many others.



Thrones is definitely a live experience, but the recordings can take you to a completely weird place too. Preston's recordings often defy classification; dark, bizarre suggestions of something frighteningly introverted, alien and otherworldly.

Yet at times, much like the Earth material, it's oddly peaceful, tranquil. Something may strike you as a bit silly sounding, then you realize it's downright spooky. No one does it quite like Thrones.

Equally recommended is Thrones' "Alraune"(still my favorite one), "Sperm Whale," and his Melvins/Kiss parody solo record. Hands first flower...indeed."

Brilliance!

J. Keeler | Cursed Midwest | 06/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For consisting of one member, THRONES sure are good. Maybe that is precisely why THRONES are so good. No peanut gallery to pander to. Seriously derranged and creative tunes await. Never has heavy sounded so gosh dern cuddly. Oh gosh..."